Medical suppliers in Vernon are struggling to keep masks and sanitation products on the shelves amid growing coronavirus concerns.

Several stores said masks were sold out in February and suppliers are struggling to keep up with the demand.

Surge Med91裸聊视频檚 customer service administrator Tracy Dufresne said customers in Vernon are signing up for a waitlist for when the store eventually replenishes its supply.

Customer service representative Britni Horncastle, with Vernon91裸聊视频檚 Southward Medical Supply, said their store has been sold out of masks and hand sanitizer for nearly one month.

91裸聊视频淭here is so much fearmongering going on in the news,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频�(Coronavirus) can be a scary thing, but so is the regular flu.91裸聊视频�

Horncastle said most of her clientele seeking masks are individuals with a pre-existing condition or those about to embark on travels.

91裸聊视频�(Masks) are better than nothing,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ut it91裸聊视频檚 like any cold, you can get it anywhere.91裸聊视频�

Dufresne echoed the sentiments and said Surge Med hasn91裸聊视频檛 seen the demand for masks and hand sanitizers this high before.

91裸聊视频淲hen H1N1 was happening, there was a bit of a kerfuffle,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淏ut this one is a little bigger. You91裸聊视频檙e hearing more about it and reading more about it.91裸聊视频�

There are 91裸聊视频渘o masks to be had91裸聊视频� at Nightingale Medical Supplies either, customer service representative Myra Bird said Friday, March 6.

91裸聊视频淥ur suppliers are out,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e trying to stock up because we need them in our area 91裸聊视频� masks have been out for a long time.91裸聊视频�

Bird said she91裸聊视频檚 never seen anything like this before.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 an epidemic, let me tell you,91裸聊视频� she said. 91裸聊视频淢asks have been a big issue right from the get-go as soon as this all broke out.91裸聊视频�

She said she believes the fear is stemming from the fact there is no known vaccination for the novel coronavirus, which is now referred to as COVID-19.

READ MORE:

91裸聊视频淥ur nurses don91裸聊视频檛 seem to be so concerned about the virus,91裸聊视频� Bird said. 91裸聊视频淪ome nurses feel it91裸聊视频檚 been blown way out of proportion.91裸聊视频�

Globally, COVID-19 has killed 3.4 per cent of reported patients as of March 3, according to the .

The provincial government announced March 6 that it is activating a pandemic plan to deal with novel coronavirus.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said the province is ready to use emergency powers to protect the population, health workers and the health system91裸聊视频檚 capacity to help patients with other problems.

Dix says the B.C. government is also preparing for how it will function if large numbers of public employees get sick.

The plan is to be ready to operate under an outbreak that lasts up to four months.

Premier John Horgan said a committee of deputy ministers will oversee B.C.91裸聊视频檚 COVID-19 response, and the province now has four labs that can test for the virus.

There are 34 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada with 21 cases in British Columbia 91裸聊视频� one of which is believed to have been contracted through community contact.

To protect patrons and employees alike, coffee giants Starbucks and Tim Hortons have temporarily stopped accepting reusable cups amid the growing COVID-19 concerns. Schools in the North Okanagan have also postponed spring break travel plans to Europe to protect its students.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Caitlin.clow@vernonmorningstar.com
Like us on and follow us on .